iPhone GPS

[Lee Frost]

Having posted the last message I searched online and see there are cradles for the iPhone 4, so that's one box ticked. But what about the viability of using an iPhone on a bike as a GPS? I'm taking my GS in for a service next week, always struggle to find the place due to one-way streets etc, so put the address of the mechanic's workshop into my Garmin Quest and it drew a blank. Put the postcode for the workshop into Google Maps on my iPhone 4 and it came up with a route immediately. So I'm thinking maybe the iPhone is the way forward, with the Tom Tom app or some other? Any advice welcome!

 

[Myke Rocks]

I have what you are looking at.

Having posted the last message I searched online and see there are cradles for the iPhone 4, so that's one box ticked. But what about the viability of using an iPhone on a bike as a GPS? I'm taking my GS in for a service next week, always struggle to find the place due to one-way streets etc, so put the address of the mechanic's workshop into my Garmin Quest and it drew a blank. Put the postcode for the workshop into Google Maps on my iPhone 4 and it came up with a route immediately. So I'm thinking maybe the iPhone is the way forward, with the Tom Tom app or some other? Any advice welcome!

Iphone 4 & tomtom all of Europe maps + non tomtom cradle, because Tomtom did not do a specific 4 cradle. (They provide a 3 with a bit if plasticene)

Have it 4 months. Superb. Also acts as handfree in car.

Myke

 

[martinvrs]

I've the tomtom on the iPhone. Set the destination, pair it up to lid, stick phone in pocket and away u go. No need to take eyes off he road.

 

[cbritton]

For a weatherproof cradle you may like to look at the bikeconsole.

See on www.ridermount.com

regards, [email protected]

 

[Lee Frost]

Thanks chaps. This is useful info. Like the idea of the waterproof case Colin so may be placing an order with you - but also like the idea of keeping the phone in my pocket and just using the audio info to navigate rather than looking at the screen. I'm going to try NavFree first and see how I get on with that then consider buying TomTom.
One more question. If I was to mount the iPhone on my bike and use TomTom, does the screen stay live when the App is running, rather than dimming and reverting back to lock screen mode as it does in normal use?

 

[Myke Rocks]

Yes, I like it, But:

Thanks chaps. This is useful info. Like the idea of the waterproof case Colin so may be placing an order with you - but also like the idea of keeping the phone in my pocket and just using the audio info to navigate rather than looking at the screen. I'm going to try NavFree first and see how I get on with that then consider buying TomTom.
One more question. If I was to mount the iPhone on my bike and use TomTom, does the screen stay live when the App is running, rather than dimming and reverting back to lock screen mode as it does in normal use?

Battery life when in GPS mode is not great. (if not being charged) Maybe 2.5 hours. Screen stays live all the time.
Bear this in mind if just keeping phone in pocket.

Myke.

 

[RAM-man]

...but is there a cradle made for the iPhone 4 to fit a RAM mount ?

It depends where on the 1150GS you intend to mount ?.

Options .. handlebar with u-bolt RAM-B-231Z or handlebar yoke clamp bracket with RAM-B-367 .. or if you want it higher and inline of eyesight .. then there's Migsel speedo bracket which has RAM-B-236 ball .. then add arm (short on speedo bracket, RAM-B-201-A) and diamond base, RAM-B-238 onto iphone cradle RAM-HOL-AP9

My 2p of input

 

[cbritton]

Charging problem is easily fixed by installing a waterproof USB socket in the cockpit. Can be used to charge all kinds of electrickery.

See at the bottom of the cables section at ridermount.com

Regards, Colin

 

[Invicta Moto]

gps on its own works perfectly well with the iphone PROVIDING the maps are already on the phone.... some applications download the maps as required.

tomtom does not.

has been tried and tested by removing the sim card.

Thanks.

 

[Jumpjim]

I've just purchased a Biologic case from Colin and am very impressed with it! Just waiting for the bike mount to come through then I can get it all mounted on the bike. It seems to be very sturdy and well made.

I also purchased a Burnsmoto 12V weatherproof USB port which I intend to cabletie onto the headstock as those guys did around Morocco.

All in all I think it's an excellent (And cheap compared to a Zumo!) solution. The only downside is the inability to download itineraries to the Tomtom software. On the upside it plays nicely with the iPod and fades the music out when giving voice directions. I've bought a 1.5M headphone extension cable and intend to run it through to the front of my seat where I can plug it into my nice new Ultimate ear monitor earplugs, with the other end plugged into the iPhone.

I think I can probably ditch the autocom as it's looking rather redundant now!

 

[Blobby]

Hi Colin. Have ordered your iPhone 4 mount today and like idea of this waterproof socket but just how easy is it to wire in on an 800GS? I know nothing about electrics and blow most things up that I touch so am rather cautious about wiring bits in.

 

[Blobby]

Only issue I've found with iphone4 mounted on 800GS is when using it as a sat nav, go much above 70mph and the vibration confuses the phone gyro (or whatever it uses) and the map keeps changing orientation as it doesn't know which way UP is on the phone. At one point the map was constantly rotating, that said, it continued to give the correct instructions through my headset so not the end of the world.

 

[Blobby]

Used Navfree in Wales today. Good on A & B roads but head for the hills and it's useless. It didn't know many of the lanes existed and had me up a dead end road in the hills on what was supposed to be a route from Abergavenny to Hay-on-Wye. Came home and downloaded TomTom onto iphone. Looks good apart from you can only add ONE via to a route which is a pain if you're trying to take in several of your favourite routes on one trip. I have my fingers crossed that CoPilot Live 9 will allow multiple via's - due out soon.

 

[GS_or_bust]

using it as a sat nav, go much above 70mph and the vibration confuses the phone gyro (or whatever it uses) and the map keeps changing orientation........

You can lock the orientation of the iPhone in portrait mode.

 

[Fern]

I've been using Navmii (paid Navfree) for a month now. Before I had a tomtom.

Good points:
-choice of fastest, easy (non motorway or big A roads), or economical routing, and avoiding motorways.
-price
-easy to get to ipod music
-really good google search function
-speed camera add on seems accurate

Bad points:
-It has tried to take me down wrong way roads, and I expect that this is more common, as there are fewer users to record and log these problems, unlike tomtom.

-Muddled instructions: It annoyingly says 'take the next right onto the A123', when you are on the A123, and the turn off you need is the A1234.

Another significant killer of a shortfall is that you cannot plan a itinerary, which renders the app useless for me, as I like to go from A to B via C and D. There is no option for this, apart from driving to A, to C, then stop and put details of D in etc.

Trying to find a free or cheap sat nav app that has this function so I can plan my rideouts on my phone before I go.

I will jailbreak my phone soon, but I'm running 10.4.11 osx, and cannot sync my phone with my mac (where is the logic in that, for brand loyalty).

:-()

Will have another go with skobbler, but it does seem a bit basic. Real bummer there is no Garmin for UK/europe, or Motionx GPS drive, for iphone.

 

[Blobby]

You can lock the orientation of the iPhone in portrait mode.

Excellent. Thanks for that. Just googled how to orientation lock phone and will try it on Wales run in the morning.

 

[Blobby]

First time out with TomTom for iphone and it's great apart from the fact that when I deviated significantly from the route, TomTom software shut down on me as in the program closed and went back to the main iphone screen. Happened about 5 times which was annoying. Just assumed it we re-route and carry on working. Anyone else had this problem and/or know of a fix?